Page 52 of A Lesson in Obedience
“Mom thought you would like it. We can always go to Samia’s and have her change the color or…”
I shook my head, holding the ring between my fingertips. “No. I love it.” I smiled at her, but that lasted only a few moments when I finally considered the people watching us. I moved my head around to see the groups of students whispering in their circles, their eyes scanning me and likely making their assumptions.
“Are you going to put it on?” Ike interrupted my thoughts, lifting his backpack higher on his shoulder.
“Uh, yeah.” I slipped the ring onto my finger and it felt just like it did when Chancellor Fowler had done it, when he’d made me wear the ring he had for me. All my powers fell silent, like they were put in a trance-like sleep.
River tapped his fingers against my hand. “How do you feel, gorgeous?”
I wiggled my fingers and rolled my shoulders. “Fine, the same I guess. Um—” The people around us continued to whisper and even though I couldn’t read their minds, it wasn’t hard to figure out what they were saying. None of them could help themselves. The fact that I showed up on this campus again was the most shocking thing overall.
River groaned, rubbing his temples. He grabbed the back of my neck, making me look at him. “I can hear them and they’re all a bunch of fucking idiots. Don’t let it bother you. Any issues and you text me, okay?”
He kissed me and it went on longer than I’d assumed itwould. A throat clearing had us breaking away from each other. Asher gave us a disinterested expression before rapping his knuckles on top of his car. “Some of us actually work here and need to get to their office to get ready for their class. So, am I dropping you two off at the lot where Grayson’s car is parked or are you walking?”
He was talking to River and Grayson, but out of the corner of his eye, he was looking at me. River swiveled his head from Asher to me, dropping his head, a small laugh escaping him. He wagged his finger at his brother. “You say I need to work on things up here,” he tapped the side of his head, “well, so do you.”
Asher groaned, pushing away from his car. “Fine, okay. You want to be funny so you can walk.” He gave his brother a lackluster smile, then dropped back into his car, slamming the door behind him.
River chuckled next to me and pulled me closer.
“That was dramatic. Although, I really shouldn’t be all that surprised anymore,” Ike pointed out, lifting his wrist to his face and looking at his watch. “I’m already going to be late for my meeting about my teaching assistant position, so I have to go.” He started to leave our little group but then stopped, looking at me. “I made sure the metal was pristine with no jagged edges. First ring I’ve ever made and the design is flawless. ” He looked pleased with himself.
My shoulders shook with my laugh. “I appreciate it.”
Ike gave me one small nod, the sunlight shining down on his dark skin and close-cut dark curls. River cleared his throat, gaining all our attention. “Do you want to get some food? I know your class doesn’t start for another hour or so and I thought we could…” he stopped talking, realizing where he’d made a mistake.
My eyes immediately shot over to Grayson who already had his attention on me.We. I wasn’t quite ready for sit down meals where we were aweagain. I wanted it, I missed it, but dealing with all these strangers judging me and knowing that somewhere Chancellor Fowler was watching me, was all I could attempt to handle. People walked by us and looked from me to Grayson, likely remembering everything that had transpired. They probably felt bad for River,having to deal with all this bullshit. I wrapped my arms around myself, rubbing my arms. “I’m not really hungry and I need to go to my dorm anyway.”
River peeked over at Grayson, preparing to open his mouth to speak when Corrin cut in. “You guys do whatever you need to do. Did I hear something about Grayson’s car? Go take a leisurely walk and I’ll head back to our dorm with Riley. Okay? Okay!” She hooked her arm through mine and swiftly turned us towards the school gates.
“Well at leastif it ever gets stuffy on man island then you can always come here,” Corrin offered, sitting on her bed.
“Man island?”
She rolled her eyes. “My jokes are not always the best. I am a healing master with an affinity for potions, not a comedian.”
I opened my desk drawer, fumbling around inside.
“What are you looking for?” She craned her neck to try to see from her side of the room.
I pulled out the pack of tiny circular pills. I waved them in her direction.
She pushed off her bed and grabbed them from me, raising her eyebrows. “Birth control pills?”
I took them back from her, popping one of them out and swallowing it. I tugged my backpack off my shoulders, unzipping it and threw the rest of the pills inside. “Life altering revelations, traumatic deaths and betrayals tend to get in the way of remembering to take these.”
Corrin’s mouth formed an ‘o’ and I tugged my braids to one of my shoulders. “Ah and I assume you and one of your boyfriends have?—”
“Yes.” I chose not to mention how I had been morethan willing to have sex with Asher the other night. Nothing happened and maybe it had been for the best.
Corrin smirked, rocking on her heels. “Well, I suppose that means you’ll be using good old fashioned condoms for the next week. Or I can mix you up an elixir. I know they're nasty,butat least you won’t have to worry about remembering to take a pill for like three months.” She gave me a soft smile, tugging on the straps of her backpack. “Also, if you’re nervous about…anything…I can cook you up a different kind of elixir that’s the magical version of a Plan B.”
“I will actually take you up on that. Both of those things, better safe than sorry. I got out my phone, looking at the time. “I have to go meet with the Dean of Students in a few minutes.”
I walked towards the door to our room, Corrin at my heels. “Dean of Students? Why?”
I tried not to make eye contact with the students that passed us in the hallway while we walked towards the elevators. “The school was bound to pull me aside at some point.”
